Donegal Local Development CLG had significant expansion in 2022 as it supported the county’s community and voluntary groups.
The organisation closed out the year with 87 employees.
The DLDC’s annual report, published this week, highlights the incredible contribution of Donegal’s community groups and volunteers as they moved on from the pandemic while supporting the arrival of Ukrainian families and new communities who sought safety and refuge in Donegal from a place of war.
2022 was a year of reconnection after the pandemic, according to Chairman Patsy McGonagle.
“As the restrictions came to an end, community groups took the opportunity to reengage in-person and to reenergise the strong partnerships that exists across our county.
“The outbreak of war in Ukraine brought unimaginable loss and saw almost 4,000 refugees seeking safety in our county. The war, like the pandemic before it, shaped the work of the community and voluntary sector in a way that we could not have imagined. It provided another huge challenge but one that was met with resolve, creativity, and immeasurable empathy from the team in DLDC and the community and voluntary groups, social enterprises, and volunteers it supports.”
Patsy McGonagle, Chairman, DLDC with Padraic Fingleton CEO, DLDC with some of the team of DLDC.7
The 2022 report details the positive work being done towards community and rural development, labour market activation, social inclusion, climate action, and social enterprise services in Donegal.
Key highlights from the Annual Report 2022 include:
- 220 people placed in various part-time, full-time and self-employment roles.
- €743,177 of transitional LEADER funding was approved for 13 projects.
- €2.5m investment in Donegal in the form of programme staff time and programme initiatives.
- 59 social enterprises benefitted from intensive one-to-one support, including strategic and business planning, governance, and fundraising.
- €1,196,000 external funding secured by social enterprises with DLDC support.
- 566 new volunteers placed in community organisations.
- 451 participated in job activation and social inclusion schemes.
- 154 community groups supported to tackle social exclusion.
- 668 people who improved their employability skills.
- 673 people attended outreach clinic appointments with the Lifelong Learning team.
Padraic Fingleton, CEO, DLDC said: “In 2022, Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) experienced another eventful year as we launched our Strategic Plan 2023- 25, moved locations for our Donegal Town and Letterkenny offices, and reconnected with communities across Donegal as we moved on from the pandemic.
“The two previous years were challenging and the departure of Covid does not signify the end of its impact. The pandemic exposed deep inequalities in our society and left many communities even more marginalised than before. As we navigate the aftermath, the disparities in recovery are undeniable. Recognising the ongoing need for support, a combined effort is needed to uplift those who have not experienced equal recovery. From highly targeted supports, social inclusion, and employment programmes, the importance of extending a helping hand to the most affected has become a shared commitment across our team. As we collectively move on, we must continue to support community and voluntary groups to ensure the resilience of our communities.”
The full report is available to read at www.dldc.org.
